Structural member



Sept. 30, 1941. E. ALMDALE STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed April 26, 1940 2 SheetsSheet l Z4 INVENTOR. fm ne 10 Mp /.5

p 1941- E. ALMDALE 2,257,665

STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed April 26, .1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. [Mme flz/vpazf Patented Sept. 30, 1941 STRUCTURAL MEMBER Einar Almdale, Detroit, Mich., assignor to The Midland Steel Products Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 26, 1940, Serial No. 331,778

8 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in structural members of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 325,212, filed March 21, 1940.

An important object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the X-shaped or cruciform member shown in the aforesaid application by forming said member integrally from two arms constituting the X-member.

Another object is to form such X-member from two pieces of metal which may be continued fore and aft of the automobile frame to form the forward end rear ends of the side rails into completely closed box section all of the way out to their extreme ends.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved frame with the improved form of X-member forming a part thereof.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the center or intersection piece of the X-member.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of one end of this center piece or intersection,

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an optional element of the X-member,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the intermediate portion of an arm portion of the X-member,

Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the assembled X-member.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of the same.

The primary object of this invention, as stated the frame or body during vertical movements of the rear wheels, over uneven. road surfaces.

While the improved X-member is especially useful in automobile frames, it is also of general application in the structural arts.

The usual inwardly facing channel beams form the customary longitudinally extending side rails Illand ll of the vehicle frame. Theforward ends of these side rails are secured in fixed spaced relation by a front cross member l2, while their rear ends are secured in rigid fixed spaced relation by a rear cross member I3.

The intermediate portions of the side rails are braced and reinforced by an X-shaped member 14 composed of two identical pieces of metal l5 and I6 which are each of channel cross section arranged lengthwise of the frame with their channels facing outwardly toward their respective side rails and their ends conforming in depth and curvature to the shape of the side rails. The intermediate portions of the channel members or sub rails l5 and [6, are bowed, arched or bent inwardly toward the longitudinal center line of the frame to form a pair of central parallel portions ll arranged in spaced apart relationship for the passage and movement of the usual propeller shaft of the motor vehicle. The lower portions of the webs of the parallel portions I! are deformed to extend inwardly as at I8 to meet at substantially the longitudinal center line of the frame and to be riveted together with rivets l9 or otherwise suitably joined together to form the intersection or center piece of an X-shaped member which is of open top cradle shape for the passage of the propeller shaft. The bottom of this cradle center piece inclines downwardly from front to rear to correspond with the normal inclination of the propeller shaft and to afford approximately the same amount of clearance with the propeller shaft at the front and rear portions, of the intersection piece.

The bowing or arching of the intermediate .portion of the two sub-rails l5 and I6 and subsequent union of the intermediate portions to form the cradle, provides a pair of forwardly diverging arms. 20 for the X-member which meet the side rails in the vicinity of the dashboard from where they extend parallel with these rails all the way up to a point adjacent the forward cross member l2 to be secured to the side rails in a manner forming them into hollow closed box section. The forward ends of these arms converge inwardly toward the center of the frame to be secured to the forward cross member I 2 at points spaced inwardly from the rails.

.The inward. bowing of the sub-rails also proture thereof and having its horizontal. flanges {6 may be formed of greater depth than the in this manner, it is preferable that their lower vides the intersection piece with a pair of rearwardly diverging arms 2| which meet the side rails in front of the rear kickup and conform in shape thereto to extend along the rear portions of the side rails all the way to the extreme 5 ends thereof and form these rear kickups and rear portions of the side rails into hollow closed box section. It will thus be. seen that both the front and rear arms 20 and 2| of each sub-rail at each side of the frame, are formed from a single piece of channel shaped metal and that the means for connecting four arms of the X-member are provided by the integral pressed out portions of these arms.

In order to reinforce the center piece of the X-member and to form it into closed box or. hollow section, the open channel of the central bowed portion of each sub-rail may be closed with a channel plate 22 conforming to the curvariveted or otherwise secured as at 23 to the horizontal flanges of the sub-rail.

If there is 'suflicient road clearance, the inwardly bowed portions of the sub-rails I5 and rest of the sub-rails. Also, the inwardly formed or deformed portions l8 of the sub-rails forming the intersection piece may be additionally fastened together with a circumferential weld 24 as shown in Fig. 4 and this union between the two deformed portions may be further rein- 3O 'forced by the insertion of channel strips 25 closely fitting the interior contour of the deformed portions and riveted together by the same v,

rivets l9. '3

The fiat blank from which each sub-rail is formed, must possess a relatively wide interacteristics of its adjuncts.

Parts of the modification shown in Figs. 5 to 9 5 inclusive which correspond to those shown in Figs. 1 to 4 are designated with corresponding reference numerals with a prime coefficient added thereto. Thus, it will be seen that the intermediate portions ll of the two sub-rails are ar- 5 ranged substantially parallel to one another and that the lower portions of the webs thereof are deformed inwardly as at l8 toward the longitudinal centerline of the frame to be secured together in juxtaposed relation by means of the 6 rivets .19 and the circumferential weld 24'. Since these intermediate portions of this modification are not as extensive as the form shown in Fig. 2,

they do notpossess the extensive lower horizontal flange shown in Fig. 2, but terminate in relatively narrow horizontal bottom flanges 30,

which are of course continuations of the lower flanges of .the two sub-rails. When the intermediate portions l'l' of the sub-rails are formed .7

70 flanges be slit transversely thereof so that alternate portions 3| thereof may be bent into the plane of the vertical offset web Hi to provide ,tabs which extend vertically through. slots 32 in the bottom 33 of the bridge piece shown in Fig. 6 75 to be welded to the edges thereof and form key welds. This bridge piece is of U-shaped cross section with a pair of spaced vertical walls 34, the ends 35 of which flare outwardly at the same angle as the arms 20 and 2| of the sub-rails and their upper edges are provided with upstanding tongues 36 to pass through and be welded to the edges of slots 31 provided in the upper flanges of the sub-rails. The upper margins of each side wall 34 is bent outwardly into a horizontal flange 38 which connects the flared portions 35 and is provided with a central aperture 39 for the pas- I sage of a rivet 40 for securing the flange 38 to the underside of the upper flange of each sub-rail as best shown in Fig. 5. The bottom 33 of the bridge piece at its front and rear edges is provided with upstanding arcuate flanges 4! which conform to the curvature of the inwardly deformed portions H! of the sub-rails to be are welded thereto at intervals as at 42. The vertical parallel walls 34 are each provided with a pair of vertical inwardly pressed ribs 43 which are adapted to be juxtaposed with respect to a pair of outwardly formed integral ribs 44 formed in each of the inwardly deformed webs l8 of the sub-rails to be spot welded together as at 45.

Thus, it will be appreciated that an exceedingly strong open top cradle shaped intersection piece is provided for the X-member and the extension of the propeller shaft and that this cradle is formed into box section primarily by the U- shaped bridge piece shown in Fig. 6. It will also be appreciated that the outward flare of the ends 35 of this bridge piece cooperate with the arms of theX-member in forming them into closed box section, especially when these wings 35 are extended along the sub-rails or arms of the X- member for any appreciable distance.

It will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, and relation of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automobile frame, having a pair of side rails, a structural member comprising a pair of bowed channel members having their endssecured to the rails and their intermediate bowed portions arranged adjacent one another with the channels facing outwardly toward the rails, and the lower portions of the webs of the bowed portionsbeing bent inwardly out of their respective planes toward the longitudinal center line of the frame and secured together to form the portions of the two members which are secured together into a structure of substantially U-shaped section to provide propeller shaft clearance.

2. In an automobile frame, having a pair of side rails, a structural member comprising a pair of bowed channel members having their ends secured to the rails and their intermediate bowed portions arranged adjacent one another with the channels facing outwardly toward the rails, and the lower portions of the webs of the bowed portions being bent inwardly out of their respective planes toward the longitudinal center line of the frame and secured together to form the portions of the two members which are secured together into a structure of substantially U-shaped section to provide propeller shaft clearance, and members having flared ends secured to close the channels at the bowed portions of the members.

3. A structural member for vehicle frames comprising a pair of members having their intermediate portions bent toward one anotherwith portions thereof parallel and the webs of said portions being deformed out of their respective planes and secured together to form a depending groove extending lengthwise of said member for propeller shaft clearance, and a U-shaped bridge piece secured to the tops of said members and having its archdepending down to embrace said parallel portions for additionally securing the deformed portions together.

4. A structural member comprising a pair of members of channel section having their intermediate portions in spaced apart planes and bent toward one another and their webs deformed inwardly and toward one another out of their respective planes and secured together to provide an open top cradle shaped member, and a U- shaped bridge piece spanning the space between the members and side walls secured to the flanges of said channel members spaced from the webs thereof.

5. A structural member comprising a pair of channel members having their intermediate portions bowed inwardly toward each other but in spaced apart planes, the webs of said members being deformed out of their respective planes toward one another and secured together to provide an open top cradle shaped member of U- section, and a U-shaped bridge piece having a bottom secured to the bottom of the cradle member, and side walls secured to the channel members in spaced relation to the Webs thereof.

6. A structural member comprising a pair of channel members having their Webs deformed out of their respective planes and secured together, said deformed webs having ribs pressed from the same to extend outwardly into the channels of said members, and a U-shaped bridge piece having its bottom secured to the bottom of said member and its side walls provided with ribs pressed from the same and secured to the ribs of the deformed Webs.

7. A structural member comprising a pair of outwardly facing channel members having webs and outwardlly extending parallel flanges bowed, inwardly toward one another to provide outwardly flaring arms, the webs of the bowed portions of said members being deformed out of their respective planes and secured together, and a U- shaped bridge piece embracing the bowed portions and having outwardly flaring portions secured to the outwardly flaring arms, the sides of said U-shaped bridge piece closing the channels of said channel members.

8. A structural member comprising a pair of members of channel sections having their inter mediate portions offset toward one another and portions of the webs of said intermediate offset portions being bent laterally out of their respective planes and secured together to form an open top cradle-shaped member, and a U-shaped element embracing the sides and bottom of said channel sections to close the channels thereof and provided with upstanding flanges conforming and secured to the offset portions of the webs. EINAR ALMDALE. 

